'Don’t go from visitor to prisoner': Commissioner's warning as drugs halted at WA prison gates
Heroin, methamphetamine and a pen gun have been among the contraband halted at WA prison gates as part of a police and Corrective Services crackdown in recent weeks.
Ten people have been charged and 20 summonses issued for drug offences in the wake of the operation, which acted on intelligence gathered by police and saw almost saw almost 100 cars searched at Hakea Prison in a series of car park sweeps.
In the most recent case, a 31-year-old woman visiting an inmate at Hakea on Saturday was arrested and charged with possession of a prohibited drug, with police alleging she was there to deliver 2 grams of methamphetamine, discovered in a balloon when she was searched.
Special Operations Group officers and the Drug Detection unit carried out car park searches at Casuarina Prison and Hakea, uncovering heroin, meth, drug paraphernalia and weapons before they could get through to the prison.
Nine people were charged with drug offences after the Casuarina search, with Corrective Services Commissioner Tony Hassall hailing the success of the “intelligence-led” operation.
Mr Hassall said the contraband stopped at prison gates had the potential to cause serious injury or kill prisoners, prison officers, or other staff.
“We are committed to ensuring our prisons remain drug free,” Mr Hassall said.
“Controlling the supply of drugs and contraband getting into our prisons is a key focus.
“We have a zero-tolerance approach to trafficking drugs or any other items into our prisons.
“Don’t go from being a visitor to a prisoner.”